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American Square Dances
ladies.* When the dancers reach their home places, the ladies and gentlemen exchange places and formations, the four gentlemen circling counterclockwise in the center with their arms around each other's shoulders, while the four ladies circle clockwise around the gentlemen until all are at their home place again. All swing their Partners once around with a Waltz Swing, then Allemande Left, Grand Right and Left half around, and Promenade Partners home.
* Skilled dancers will often circle twice around in the center formation of the finish figure, while the outer circle of four make one revolution in this movement. This is made possible by the dancers in the center, who have their arms over each other's shoulders, placing their left foot in the center of their ring and pushing with their right foot, which will cause the ring to revolve counterclockwise at a high rate of speed with a "pivot step," the dancers leaning well back as they circle with this pivot. The farther back they lean, the faster they go. This elaboration is a lot of fun, but should not be attempted by new dancers until they have mastered the simple version of the "basket" figure.
The calls in this dance are directed to the ladies and it is one of the few dances in which the ladies lead and swing the gentlemen instead of the gentlemen swinging the ladies. The lady leading each change takes the initiative in the One Hand Swings in this dance. |
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